Machine for bundling laundered articles.



PATENTBD JULY 24! 1906.

o. L. BROWN.'- MACHINE PoR .BUNDLING LAUNDBRBD ARTICLES.

4A}."ILIOATI0N FILED 1113.26. 1908.

ZSHBETSi-BHEET l.

Minka/k 1 f rus Nomzls PETER: cal, wAsHmmN, b. c.

110.3236361. PAT'BNTED JULY y24, 1906.

" o. L; BROWN.

MACHINE PoR BUNDLING LAUNDERED ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26.1906. Y.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mt NonRrs Plums col, WASHINGTON, b. c,

UNITED srnrns PATENT OFFICE.`

MACHINE FOR BUNDLING LAUNDERED ARTICLES.

Specication -of` Letters: Patent.

VPatented July 24,190.6.

Application iledFebIuaIyZG, 1906. Serial No. 303,117.

.To a/ZZ whom, it www] concern,.-

Beit known that l, CHARLES L. BROWN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Bundling Laundered Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to a machine especially for bundlingrough-dried laundered articles. By its use a quantity of the unironed laundered articles are placed in a forwardly-open compartment or receiver relatively to a length or lengths of twine. A horizontal section or wall of the compartment is then vertically adjusted to contract the space approximately corresponding to the given height of the pile of laundered articles, such section or wall being then so locked in its adjustment as to maintain it in close relation to the laundered pieces, and then one of the horizontal sections or walls of the receivingreceptacle is forcibly moved to compress the bundle as muchas desirable, whereupon the twinevmay be tightened and tied, all-t0 the end of facilitating the preparation of the work for nal wrapping and delivery :in compact and attractive shape.

The `invention consists in combinations and arrangements 0f devices and parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and covered in and by the claims.

This machine is .illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the same with clear indication of the manner of its use. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view from front to rear as taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is avertical section of a part of the machine, taken on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view in detail taken on line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.

1n the drawings, A represents the table or bench, on which is supported a receiver or receptacle for the laundered pieces, the same comprising a back 10, opposite sides 12 12, a bottom 13, and a top 14, the latter being vertically movable, and the said receptacle is open at its front, as shown.

In order that the upper horizontal wall or movable top section 14 of the receptacle may have its proper vertical movements both for adjustment and compression, as hereinafter apparent, steadily andwithout any tilting, the opposite side walls 12 12 havewithintheirinner surfaces-separated parallelpairsof vertical grooves or guideways 15 15, in which blocks or projections 16, formed on or connected with the ends of the movable top, are fitted for sliding engagements. The oppositefside Walls 12 12 have about centrally therein long vertical slideways 17 17, in which areA fitted for vertical movements the verticali'bars b I), the lower end of which are extended through guiding-apertures therefor in the table and by the `links d d are connected vto the'side bars of a treadlethe depression of which'is against' the retracting-spring f2. The outer portions of the said bars b areof dovetailf form and are fitted through dovetail recesses 20 and horizontal tie-bars 22, y'which `connect and brace the portions ofthe sides 1.2 12 at the front and rear of the slideways 17. The inner faces of the slide-bars b are formed Iwith Yseries of ratchet-teeth 9 in vertical'lines, traversing the ends of the'movable top 114. The said movable top has thereon apairofsliding latches 71, h, normally outwardly distended by the spring 23, arranged in compressionlbetween the latches, 24 representing guides for the latches, and 2 5 studs or hand-lesby means of which toconveniently operate them when it is purposed to disengage the verticallyslidable top section 114 vfrom the `ratchettooth slide-bars b' b, which are included the means for forcibly moving the top.

ii are spring-detents provided on the inner faces of the receptacle side Walls Aatsuitably high points and serve to temporarily hold the movable top in an elevated position when disconnected by being unlatched from the vertical slide-bars b b, conducingtoA convenience in the use of the machine at the time of laying the laundered articles to be bundled in the receiving compartment or receptacle.

y' represent a pair of twine-holders which may be of any suitable kind mounted on the front upper portion of the machine, and c 7C represent a pair of spring-clips or twine-retainers at the forward bottom portion of the machine.

Preparatory to making a compressed bundle the top 14 is unlatched and slid to an extreme upper position to be engaged and supported by the yielding pressure by the springdetents i i. The depending lengths of the twine drawn from the supply in the twineholders are carried inwardly within the receptacle, the end portions, however, being IOO ' `teeth 9 of the side slide-bars and being left invention.

v cal opposite sides, open front. and top and moving carry as one therewith the top sectwines, and the top 14 is then forced down to contact against the uncompressed pile,` the spring-latches h h clicking past the ratchet- ;inengagement therewith. Now by forcing down the treadle f the side bars downwardly tion 14, which is in substance a platen, and vthe compression of the laundered pieces is accomplished in the desired degree, and the bundle may be then quickly tied by the already partially engaged strings. The footpressure being released, the slide-bars l) have upwardly-returning movements, and the operator inwardly forcing the latches moves the top section 14 up to the position of its temporary retention by the spring-detents i, whereupon the bundle is removed and the machine is in readiness for a repetition of its use, as described.

Various changes may be made in respect of minor details and arrangements in a machine of this character without departure from my 1. In a machine of the character described, in combination, a support or table, a receptacle thereon comprising a vertical back, vertibottom sections, one of which is vertically movable from and toward the other and guided by the vertical walls of the receptacle, a pair of oppositely-located vertically-movable bars adjacent opposite portions of said movable section, means for detachably engaging such movable section with said vertically-movable bars, and means for imparting vertical movements to said bars.

2. In a machine of the character described in combination, a support or table, a receptacle, thereon, comprising a back and opposite sides, and open at its front, a top therefor, a pair of vertical bars having portions adjacent l the ends of the top and relatively to which said top is adjustable vertically, latches on the top for the detachable engagement of the latter with said vertical bars, and means for imparting vertical movements to said bars.

3. In a machine of the character described in combination, a support, a receptacle thereon comprising a back, opposite sides having vertical ways therein, and open at its front, and a movable top, a pair of vertical bars movable in said ways and having series of ratchet-teeth on their inner faces, adjacent which the ends of said top are located, a pair of outwardly-spring-pressed latches on said top engaging the ratchet-teeth of said bars, and a foot-treadle connected with said bars.

4. In a machine of the character described in combination, a support, a receptacle, thereon, comprising a back and opposite sides having parallel vertical slideways within their inner faces and said receptacle having a bottom and an open front, a top vertically movable within said receptacle having end mem-v bers engaging in the said pairs of verticall slideways, a pair of vertical bars, latches on the top for the detachable engagement of the latter with said bars, and means for imparting vertical movements to said bars.

5. In a machine ofthe character described in combination, a support or table, a receptacle, thereon, made with a bottom section, a back, and opposite sides, land open at its front, a top for said receptacle vertically movable within the same, spring-detents at the upper portion of the inner surfaces of the said sides for temporarily holding the top in an elevated position, a pair of vertical bars relatively to which said top is vertically adjustable, latches on the top for the detachable engagement of thelatter with said vertical bars and means for imparting vertical movements to the bars.

Signed by me at Springfield, Massachusetts, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES IJ. BROWN.

Witnesses: WM. S. BnLLows, G. R. DnrsooLL. 

